S&B

I told you I would not give up hope!! Something did open up this afternoon so I have a few questions.

If we dock in Rome at 7 a.m. and the flight leaves at 11:20 a.m., are we going to make it or is that too close?

What is Air Canada Rouge? That is how we fly from Toronto to Venice. It will not let me choose seats saying that we choose our seats at check in. All I ask is that we are safe. I don't have to have entertainment, etc.

Here is what we have to do - TPA-Houston or Dulles-Toronto-Venice. The return is easier. Rome-Toronto-EWR. Get a single ticket to get to TPA.

Thanks so much. You all have been so helpful.

Thanks everyone for all of your suggestions. It is greatly appreciated. We are traveling on United in September. We only wanted to use one FF mile ticket because then we save the other for another trip to Europe.

I have tried all sorts of combinations returning to the U.S. from Rome and nothing seems to work out I guess it will be two nights in Rome. We fly out of Rome at 6:40 a.m. so now the problem is finding a hotel near the airport but also near a subway station so we can get to the city for a visit.

We can fly from Rome to Newark (which I said I would never use Newark again as a U.S. entry airport again) and then get a single one way ticket to Tampa. Three years ago we used FF miles to go to Hong Kong and return from Singapore. It took weeks and many hours on the internet and all of a sudden a flight opened up so I will not give up hope!!

Thanks again!

Grandma "knows" Best - we are coming to your (and our) favorite city for our 50th Anniversary!!

We can use our FF miles to fly from the U.S. to Venice, Italy, but cannot find a FF ticket from Rome back to the U.S. for the miles that we want to use. I have tried all sorts of different airports in the U.S. but nothing works out on the days that we need to return as we are on a cruise. I think spending two nights in Rome would be very expensive!

I know that the airlines no longer let you buy international tickets one way for half price of the round trip. Does anyone know of a way to get a one way ticket or is it just no longer possible?

Any help will be appreciated.

We are also looking at the NCL Norway cruise on June 12. We were on the Sun when they went to South America and were very happy. The steak and salmon was better than when we were on the Princess.

We had booked a balcony and one month before sailing an aft cabin became available at the same price so we jumped at it. If I am looking at the HAL cruise to Norway they do not go to Leknes in 2015. We have not made up our minds yet so we will also look at Princess and Celebrity.

Whatever we choose it will be a beautiful trip!!

Thanks Pluto Fan.

Yes, it is the Prisendam that leaves on August 10 out of Amsterdam. I did some more researching about the islands last night. My main goal is to go past the Arctic Circle.

The August 2 sailing from Rotterdam cruises the North Cape. There seems to be more scenic cruising on the August 2 date. On the August 10 date you go into one extra city. I believe that is Molde.

I have also thought about the scenery with August vs. June. We love to see snow capped mountains (as does every body else)but then we have to wait until 2015.

Thanks for your reply. I am also a Pluto lover. Well, I love anybody from Mouse land!!

We have been researching cruises on Holland America and have found two that we like but we are not certain that they include the Lofoten Islands. It lists several towns we visit but does not say Lofoten Islands. From reading Cruise Critic several people have said that is a must!

Can anyone help find a cruise that goes to the islands or is it a special excursion from one of the towns listed? As you can see I am confused.

Thanks for helping.

We are not stressed out. However, I do have to admit that every time the phone rings I wonder if it is Vantage. I would have never known that they overbook cruises had I not read a post on Vantage Facebook where a customer got cancelled 8 days before departure. That is when I started to read the fine print. Never was good at reading all that stuff!!

So, we just kind of wait it out. In the mean time I have obviously stopped buying winter clothes. Weather today in Florida is beautiful. High 70's!!

Happy travels to everyone and we did have a wonderful cruise to Egypt with Vantage of which I am glad that we went when we did.

Papa, How close to your departure date did they ask you to move? We are now 39 days out. This is a Christmas Market Cruise and there are no other dates other than waiting until next year. Did they give you a choice or just tell you what you were doing?

Hi ccp556 (fellow cruise mate)

Yes, I have checked our account every day to see if anything has changed and nothing so far. What changes are you seeing? Let me see if I can explain this to you:

In April we were gone for a week and did not get our cruise booked. After we came home they called me and I had told them the category that we wanted. That category was filled but she said she would call back in the afternoon to see what they could do. In the P.M. they called back and this is the story they told.

There was a group that had signed up for this cruise and one of the group members had wanted to change categories. So, we were taking that persons cabin category. I am not going to tell you what I think happened. If I see you in Munich I will tell you.

We are taking the Munich extension and also the optional tour on Friday That will be one of my favorites, I think. We are also trying to connect with friends on Sunday afternoon in Nuremberg. They live six months in Germany.

I will call them tomorrow and post on CC but I know nothing will have changed. We will have to talk about this rain gear. I was going to take rain ponchos. Do any of your friends leave from Newark at 8:30 p.m.?

BY for now.

Hi CP556 from South Carolina,

No, we do not have a cabin number yet and no calls from Vantage. I have called them twice and will not call again, just waiting for them to make up their minds what they are doing. Or not doing.

Went into the guest bedroom last night and saw the winter clothes I have laid out. Bought some new cuddle duds at Kohl's last week. They are the fleece ones. A friend told me about them. I am holding off on buying boots. If we do not go i am returning these winter clothes I bought because I would never wear them in Florida.

Sure hope we get to meet you in Munich!! I have really been studying on the internet about Munich and the markets. If we don't go I will at least be educated.

Yes, it is in the Vantage policy handbook but I never read the fine print until someone on Facebook talked about being cancelled 8 days before departure and they had a cabin number.

Vantage has a policy that they over book their river cruises and in the end someone has to be cancelled if no one has previously cancelled on their own. The Christmas river cruise we are on with Vantage is over booked by two cabins. As of yet we do not have a cabin number.

Vantage told me this morning that this is perfectly legal to overbook. Does Viking and Avalon have the same booking policies? We chose Vantage because of their itinerary. It is obviously too late to choose another cruise company but I would like to know for any future river cruises we take. We took an Egypt trip with Vantage and were very happy.

Thanks for any information for future cruises. I have the feeling I am going to be returning my winter clothing I purchased!

Tidwood, which Vantage Christmas market cruise are you looking at? We are on the December 7 going from Nuremburg to Cologne. We decided at the last minute to take the extension in Munich for three days so we will leave Dec. 3..

We are from Florida and I am concerned about finding enough warm clothes and especially warm shoes to take along. I have already started planning!

We were on the January 22 sailing and in Bangkok we had an overnight tour with Wandee Tours. I thought it was very well done and we enjoyed it. I would only suggest that on the second day you get an earlier start. We did have to go to a jewelry shop as our last thing of the day before going to the hotel.

As for the Halong Bay tour I did not find it annoying that they were trying to sell me things on the junk. There was no pressure. At least I found my magnet there!! We had more pressure when we stopped at the fishing village. We were with Smile tours. The cave was fantastic and our guide was willing to help in any way he could on some of the uneven steps.

Gixer,

Thanks for all of your wonderful help. We just returned from Stanley. It was such a beautiful day that I could not believe it. We went to the Lagoon Bluff and had so much fun taking pictures of the penguins and watching them. I have emailed the pics to our two sons and they cannot believe it.

Thanks again.

S&B (Come see us in Florida)

Bluesea,

We are on the NCL Sun and will be in Stanley on February 6, 2009. We also chose the Bluff Cove excursion mainly because I wanted to be able to see the town of Stanley if possible. I figure we will have two hours after the excursion. I wil be anxious to see what you have to say when you return.

Gixer,

Thanks for all your information you have given us. When we get closer I am sure we will be asking more questions. I was going to bring you a "Mouse" magnet but I see that you have already been to see the "Mouse." If one wants to buy magnets from Stanley where do you suggest? We will have to plan our two hours very carefully!! I am going to go back and reread all of your comments. Thanks again.